#TeamUV
Meet the team at UVPC! Our instructors and admin team help make UVPC the place you’ve come to love. Check out our teams bios and see what else they’re up to outside of the studio.
Check our blog for one-on-one interviews with each of our #movementexperts
Elisa she/her @aerial.elle.uv
Owner of UV, Movement Artist and Performer, Pole Pedagogist
When Elisa started her pole journey in 2008, she fell in love with pole, and worked hard to make it a big part of her life. A performing musician and vocalist since the age of 3, she was no stranger to the stage. She began gogo dancing and performing pole in 2010. By then she had begun aerial circus training, and opened her first pole studio in Woodbridge, Ontario. She sold her franchise a year in to focus on her training and decided to build a career in performance arts. Her year as a studio owner opened her eyes to the business world, and she began working on a unique curriculum and class system that is now an important part of UV!
In 2014 she performed in very first aerial circus show and opened up UV Pole Fitness, formerly Aradia Fitness in Forest Hill. By Autumn 2021 UV moved into a new larger location, something Elisa had been working on for years. Since then UV has grown into an inclusive community of artists and people who want to move and grow in the world of circus and pole. UV has blossomed into a pole and circus space, offering classes on several aerial apparatus alongside pole. Outside of running the studio, Elisa spends her time training, dreaming up new creative concepts, performing circus, dance and pole, and making big plans for UV. She is an avid urban gardener and you can enjoy plenty of plant-life at the studio! After teaching quite regularly for over 12 years, Elisa is semi-retired from teaching to focus on UV, performing and being an artist.
Angie she/her @angieflowvibez
Barre, pole, dance, yoga and heels instructor
“Humans are meant to move. Dancing and flowing were a big part in my life when I was growing up and so I always knew that I wanted to become a Dance Teacher one day. My fierce love of connecting with people and sharing my true passion is the reason why I flow. In all honesty,I cannot imagine my life without flowing! Movement is so much more than just the physical strength, it's in emotions, learning and relationships. The body is intimately involved in all our thought processes, understanding, and decision making. With a strong foundation in various dance genres (ballet, contemp, jazz, ballroom, tap), acro, flexibility, yoga, pilates, barre, pole sport and dance, I have been teaching at UV since 2016 and I must say that I am so lucky and proud to be part of such a diverse and creative community, the UV Team. It is truly a home away from home and all of you make it very special :) It would be my pleasure to see new and old faces in my classes, watch you grow as you get to discover the best version of yourself. Always remember that it's never too late to start something.”
Angie teaches on Fridays and Sundays!
Christine she/her @cdnpoles
Pro pole, circus and dance instructor, studio manager
Christine learned about pole dance when taking a sensual dance class with friends and she decided it would be fun to try. Having a background in both gymnastics and dance, it was a great combination of the power of gymnastics and the fluidity of dance. After a 4 week intro to pole session, she was hooked! Her passion for pole dance grew, which then turned into a passion for teaching. She has now been teaching pole dance at UV for 5 years! Christine’s goal as an instructor is to help students succeed in their own pole journey and realize that they are capable of incredible things. Christine loves sharing her knowledge of pole, breaking down movements and working progressions for every level. She will be a forever student, and now also loves learning how to be a better teacher.
Christine loves that pole is for everyone and that you can make it be anything want it to be, fitting any mood. She loves exploring new movement on-and-off the pole and experimenting with different styles. She also loves putting together performances and besides performances at UV, she has performed at Chrome Art and competed in PSO, winning 3rd place in Level 4 Dramatic. When not pole dancing, you likely find Christine hanging out with her partner and adorable dog Penny.
Christine teaches on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Elena she/her
Pole dance instructor
Elena has been on the pole as much as possible for quite a few years now. Even before she started teaching she was a regular at the studio. Aradia taught and trained, Elena is now one of UV's intermediate instructors and delights all with her strict eye for technique and firm but kind teaching methods. Elena delights in gracing the stage whenever she can and will knock your socks off with her fantastic form and elegant beauty.
Elena teaches pole Basics on Monday evenings.
Elspeth she/they @itselspeth
Pole, circus and contortion instructor
Elspeth is an engineer-turned-aerialist who specializes in pole and contortion-based creations. She first started pole in 2016 on a whim and naturally, it was love at first sight. In 2018 she started performing and competing and has since found a niche in dynamic pole and pole artistry. She loves combining on-stage tension with high concept characterization and is always looking for the next challenge. In recent years, Elspeth has refocused and honed her skills in acro, handbalancing and contortion, and is a certified Alixa Flexibility Coach. Elspeth is a passionate and technique-driven instructor and is incredibly excited to be joining the UltraViolet Pole Fitness Team.
Elspeth teaches Handstands, Aerial Pole, and Beginner Lyra on Monday evenings!
Laura she/her @princesssparkles13
Pole dance instructor
Laura spent her formative years training as a ballerina and gymnast, and abandoned dance for a university education when she was in her teens. After a long 15 year hiatus, she has since taken up pole and hoop, and has trained non-stop for the past 6 years. She rekindled her love of dancing and performing through UV Pole Fitness and is happy to be a part of this wonderful studio.
Laura teaches her signature dance style on Tuesday evenings along with a Basics/Spins mixed-level class!
Tahnee she/her @tatagabor
Pole, dance, circus instructor
When Tahnee started pole dancing in 2015 she was hooked immediately, getting a pole installed into her home only a month later! She comes from a background training in ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, heels dance, flag-spinning as a colour guard, and aerial circus arts (silks, trapeze, lyra, partner balancing). She loves performing and has had experience doing so for small to stadium-filled audiences. In 2016, Tahnee competed in both the Erotic Pole and Pole Dance Troupe categories at the Great White North Pole Competition in Hamilton and showcased a pole solo at Chrome Art in Toronto. She is drawn to the athleticism and multifaceted styles of movement this discipline has to offer and is looking forward to sharing her experience and passion for the dance sport with everyone.
Tahnee teaches her signature Pro Pole on Mondays along with Lyra on Thursdays!
Tara she/her @tara.poledance
Pole, dance, Shibari and flexibility instructor
With over 15 years of experience in pole dancing and 14 years as an instructor, I specialize in freestyle, sensual, and erotic pole, creating a space where movement becomes an act of self-discovery. I integrate movement with therapeutic principles from by background in Gestalt psychotherapy, helping students connect deeply with their bodies, release judgment, and move in a way that feels authentically good to them. My approach emphasizes embodiment and the power of slow, intentional movement to unlock personal expression and sensuality.
Tara teaches on Tuesday evenings, her signature dance style and Fusion/Pro.
Sarah Polerina she/her @sarah.polerina
Erotic movement specialist and pole instructor
After years of ballet and jazz, Sarah fell head over Pleaser heels for pole dancing in February of 2015. A lover of the tallest platforms and the tiniest of details, she cultivates her own brand of sinuous and intoxicating low flow.
Sarah is a certified instructor and award-winning competitor, specializing in intricate low flow and basework. She is a certified and licensed Liquid Motion 1.0 and Heels instructor, focusing on safety, technique and play in all of her classes. Sarah welcomes all movers of any background wanting to connect to their inner magic.
Sarah teaches Floor Flow in her sensual style along with Sits and Climbs on Wednesday evenings.
Wanning she/her @thepolebender
Pole and Aerial instructor
Wanning has been in love with pole dancing since her first class in 2015. With experience in other aerial arts like hoop, silks, and trapeze as well, she is especially infatuated with exotic flow on all kinds of apparatus (i.e., pole, chair, floor, etc.). She enjoys that there is always something challenging to work on - whether it’s a strength trick, a flexibility move, or a new choreography. With no previous dance or gymnastics background, she loves how accessible pole dancing can be. While it can take time to build the skills, she is convinced that anyone can do it with the right support, and she wants to be that support for her students. She believes that pole dancing can be whatever you want it to be: a form of sensual or artistic expression, a phenomenal workout, and/or simply an outlet after a tired day. No matter what - it is always positive, fun, and empowering.
Wanning teaches Pole Basics on Saturdays.
Callie she/her @calico.pole
Pole art and contortion instructor
Callie started pole in 2015, being drawn to its unique blend of acrobatics, sensuality, and artistry. Equipped with a foundation of gymnastics, breakdance, and strength training, Callie found pole was the perfect medium to progress her movement practice. She has since performed and competed in several events, and has been fortunate to learn from amazing instructors worldwide (e.g., Marion Crampe, Marlo Fisken, Yvonne Smink). Over recent years, she has also trained regularly in contortion and hand-balancing. With pole, Callie is most drawn to improvisation (freestyle), polished movement and extension, and unique floorwork or base flow.
Callie began teaching in 2020 and loves to incorporate functional flexibility, strength, and fluidity in her lessons. Callie believes the ability to connect to our bodies, with acceptance and presence, can be such a powerful and transformative experience. Her goal with teaching is to facilitate students’ feelings of mastery, comfort, and connection with their bodies. She strives to promote a warm, accepting, and challenging atmosphere to enable students of all levels to find growth through movement. Outside of her training, Callie is studying to become a clinical psychologist, and also enjoys spending time with her adorable cats.
Callie teaches Spin Pole Choreo on Sunday afternoons!
Julia she/her @_.p.i.m.p._
Pole and circus instructor
Julia started teaching twerk, pole, hammock and flexibility in 2020 back in Europe. She has competed and won 3rd place in a Ukrainian pole art competition. She loves dancing and aerial arts and practices aerial silks, pole, lyra, rope and straps. Besides dancing and aerial arts, Julia loves acting and modelling.
Julia teaches Silks, Hammock and Pole Basics on Wednesday evenings.
Tamara she/they @flexyyoga
Circus, yoga, movement instructor
With over a decade of experience in circus arts as an aerialist and a contortionist, Tamara Salpeter has a background in a multitude of dance forms, most notably ballet (Royal Conservatory of Dance and Music), physical theatre training with a BFA with Honours in devised theatre and set & costume design from York University (2007), as well as over 500 hours of Yoga teacher training. Tamara currently teaches many movement modalities including fabric, lyra, trapeze, flexibility, contortion, yoga, restorative, pilates, barre, rope wall, functional movement, and more. Tamara also writes, directs, and performs circus arts and theatre.
Tamara teaches Silks and Hammock on Thursdays and Sundays.
ANGEL SHE/THEY @ANGELPOX_ANGELFITKITCHEN
CIRCUS INSTRUCTOR
Angel Sing (she/they) is a circus enthusiastic who begins her aerial journey in NYC, 2017. In 2018, she was awarded a scholarship to pursue an intensive professional track circus study at The Muse Brooklyn mainly practicing in aerial silks, hammock, rope and partner acro. She enjoyed performing in duo & solo silks as well as being a clown. Since moving back to Toronto in 2019, she has been focusing on training in silks, lyra, pole and aerial pole.
angel teaches Silks and Hammock on fridays.
Cydney SHE/Her
silks and movement instructor
Cydney is a movement artist with a background as an actor and physical theatre performer. She holds a BA Specialist in Theatre and Drama from the University of Toronto Mississauga Conservatory Program and a diploma in Acting from Sheridan before finding circus in 2014. Introduced to aerial silks while on tour, she started taking classes as soon as she returned to Toronto and never looked back. In 2017, she started her teaching journey and expanded her training into Hoop and Trapeze and holds certification in Aerial Teacher Training from Nimble Arts and Alixa Flexibility 1. Cydney believes that circus is for everyone and primarily teaches silks and hammock with a strong focus on technical skills and aerial theory.